What Does The Church of Jesus Christ Believe?
We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of
God and is the SOLE authority on every subject. We
believe that Jesus Christ is the Almighty God. Rev. 1:8,
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,
saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to
come, the Almighty.” God put on a robe of flesh and
walked here on earth for 33 years to fulfill prophecy for
the New Testament Church, which is The Church of
Jesus Christ. According to the Word, John 1:1, “In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.” John 1:14, “And the Word was
made flesh, and dwelt among us….” The Church of
Jesus Christ believes that everyone must take His word
seriously, John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye
shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I Am He,
ye shall die in your sins.”
We follow God’s plan of salvation. Acts 2:38,
“…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Baptism is by
immersion in water only. The evidence of the infilling
of the Holy Ghost is according to Acts 2:4, “And they
were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.” John 3:5 states, “Jesus answered, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water
and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.” We must then live a clean, holy, and dedicated
life to Jesus Christ thereafter taking diligent heed to the
Word.
The Church of Jesus Christ must be found faithful
to His Word. We must be partakers of Communion
service. This service consists of the Lord’s Supper and
Foot Washing. 1 Cor. 11:24, 25, “And when he had
given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my
body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance
of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup,
when he had supped, saying, “This cup is the New
Testament in my blood: this do ye oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me.” John 13:14, 15, “If I then, your
Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought
to wash one another’s feet. (15) For I have given you an
example that ye should do as I have done to you.”
Watch, pray, forsake not the assembling of
yourselves together, give your tithes and offerings, so
that YOU can be counted among the faithful when our
one and only Savior, Jesus Christ, comes back in a
“cloud with power and great glory”!
Executive Board of Bishops
Bishop Jarret R. Spence, Presiding Bishop 2298 Fern Street
Portage, Indiana 46368
Phone 219-762-7492
Bishop Tommy Johnson, Asst. Presiding Bishop
P.O. Box 505
Dyersburg, Tennessee 38024
Phone 731-285-9200
Bishop Paul Rose, Secretary/Treasurer
P.O. Box 344
Cabin Creek, West Virginia 25035
Phone 304-595-5640
National Youth Leaders
Bro. Jarret & Sis. Caryn Spence
804 Pennsylvania Avenue
LaPorte, IN 46350
Phone 219-325-3904
Bro. Travis & Sis. Nora Hensley, Assistants
437 Tecumseh Street
Warsaw, IN 46582
Phone 574-551-4487
Bishop of Jamaica
Bishop Orville Rodney
199 Catherene Mount
Albion P. A.
Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica, W. I.
Phone 876-952-6676
Bishop of Canada
Bishop Mathias Gooden
75 Dunlop St., Apt. 406
Richmond Hills, ON L4C 2M7
CANADA
Phone 905-883-8543
State Bishops
Bishop Charles Hays, Sr.
409 Fitch Street
Albion, Michigan 49224
Phone 517-629-7053
Bishop Danny Walls
P.O. Box 216
Ingalls, Indiana 46048
Phone 317-485-4105
United We StandUnited We StandUnited We StandUnited We Stand
Divided We FallDivided We FallDivided We FallDivided We Fall
www.jesuschristisgod.org
www.thechurchofjesuschrist.net
The Church Of Jesus Christ
Headquarters: 2797 Bryant St. Portage, IN 46368
Phone: 219-763-1049
www.JESUSCHRISTISGOD.ORG
Message of Hope
Official Organ, owned by: The Church of Jesus Christ
Editor of the Message of Hope:
Sis. Wendy Leslie
Please send all articles to:
MESSAGE OF HOPE
236 Southwind Dr. Valparaiso, IN 46385
Articles and Pictures due: November 1st
Report from Montpellier, Ohio
Praise the Lord, brothers and sisters! The Church
of Jesus Christ in Montpellier, Ohio is so blessed and
we rejoice in the many great things the Lord is doing.
The summer is passing swiftly and we are so thankful
for the Lord’s traveling mercies. The Lord is great and
greatly to be praised! We were so blessed to have Bro.
Johnny Garza and Sis. Sandy Garza with us for services
a couple of weeks ago. We praise the Lord for Bro.
Johnny receiving the Holy Ghost!! Then we were
surprised with a visit from Bishop and Sister Johnson.
Bishop Johnson taught on “perfect and perfection.” The
Lord is always working on perfecting His saints. In
Hebrews 6:1 it states that, “Therefore, leaving the
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto
perfection; not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.”
On Sunday, August 24th, Bro. John Brandenberger was
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ! This was our very
first baptism here at the church. It was such a blessing
and we can see God is still moving in the hearts of the
people!
Bro. Blaine has been teaching on the heart. Many
times it has been heard, Well, God knows my heart.
Yes, He does… but, do you? Let us examine our walk
daily with the Lord and see where our heart really is. In
Matthew 6:21 it says, “For where your treasure is, there
will be your heart be also.” In 2 Peter 1:5-8, Peter
wrote: “and besides this, giving all diligence, add to
your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to
knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience;
and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if
these things be in you, and abound, they make you
that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Verse 10 says:
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to
make your calling and election sure: for if ye do
these things, ye shall never fall.”
So let us examine our hearts and find where God
would have us to be and do for Him. For our whole duty
is to fear God and to keep His commandments. We love
and pray for each and everyone!!
Sis. Charity Pennington
Pastor, Elder Calvin Pennington
The Church of Jesus Christ
Montpelier, OH
The Power of the Holy Ghost
Love, Grace and Mercy from God through His
Son Jesus Christ, greetings to The Church of Jesus
Christ.
In Acts 2:38 Peter commands what must be done
in order to be part of the family of God. In Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive the power (gift) of the Holy
Ghost”, but we must first believe for the scriptures says,
“…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him.” After receiving the Holy Ghost we are
commissioned to be witnesses due to the power of the
Holy Ghost which lives in us. Our speech must be
seasoned with salt, humility, truth and the grace of God
so as to draw others to Him. When we receive the Holy
Ghost, power is come upon us which changes our lives
completely.
Living a new life to God’s standard and doing that
which is right and holy. So many are turning away from
God, some are spectators instead of participators.
We are not singing, praying or reading the Bible
as we used to do before when we first came into the
body of truth. The power of the Holy Ghost is reserved
and is available for all believers in Christ who want to
serve Him in spirit and truth. God bless you all, let’s
keep the faith.
Sis. Doreen Benjamin
Hamilton, Canada
Praise the Lord!
Great news from The Church of Jesus Christ in
Portage, Indiana. I am so thankful for the Word that
goes forth during the preaching and teaching that stirs
the hearts of people just like it did in Acts 2. Jesus
Christ is still drawing people and pouring out His spirit
upon those that sincerely heed His call.
Sarah White was baptized on October 11, 2007
and received the Holy Ghost with the evidence of
speaking in tongues on August 16th, 2008 at the
Pierceton Tent Revival. I thank the Lord that all in my
household is saved.
We have all begun a race that is not finished yet.
In the race you do not have to be the first to win – you
just need to finish being full with works in the truth.
My hope and prayers is that we continue our walk
with Jesus Christ and grow in faith that we may
overcome this world and reign with the Almighty God –
Jesus Christ.
Sis. Donna White
Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence
The Church Of Jesus Christ
Portage, IN
PRAISE REPORT FROM PORTAGE, IN
We here at The Church of Jesus Christ in Portage,
Indiana are still rejoicing form all the blessing that the
Lord has been bestowing on us since our last report. On
Sunday, August 10th, Bro. Clarence Rogers was
baptized in The Name of Jesus Christ before the night
service. During the alter service that same night Bro.
Johnny Garza received the gift of the Holy Ghost. We
were all ready for the Tent Revival in Pierceton, Indiana
which took place later that week August 14-16. The
services were so filled and the word of God sent out
every night to those in the neighborhood around that
could easily hear what went forth from the word of God.
The tent itself is like the tabernacle in the wilderness. It
is a witness to the world that there are people that are
willing to serve the Lord and spread the word to the lost.
The Tent Revival ended with Sis. Sarah White claimed
the Holy Ghost. We are celebrating these spiritual births
in the church here in Portage and look forward to future
births very soon.
We also want to thank the Lord for the word that
has been brought forth to us during the past month.
Bishop Spence has been bringing forth messages some
of which were titled, “Time Is Running Out” and “Don’t
Reject God Too Long.” The word has been warning us
to be obedient to the Lord, to get ready because time is
running out and how we need to follow God’s way
because there is no other way. God is trying to prepare
His people for the times that are quickly coming.
This is back to school time and I was thinking
about how when I was in school I had a backpack full of
books. Every school year the backpack seemed to get
heavier even as I went to college. Those college years
were when my backpack had the heaviest load and I had
to travel the farthest with it. That led me to the thought
that as we live from day to day we have spiritual weight
that gets placed upon us but how we are told in Hebrews
12:1 to “lay aside every weight,” and Psalms 55:22 tells
us to “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall
sustain thee.” I’m so glad we don’t have to carry around
a heavy load that life puts on us every day. God just
asks us in Matthew 16:24 to, “take up his cross, and
follow me.” Jesus Christ Himself told us in Matthew
11:28 and 30 to “Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, ad I will give you rest. For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light.” Even though we have to
live in this world with all its cares and troubles, we
don’t have to live with the weight that bogs us down.
We can give the weight to the Lord so we can “run with
patience the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1)
until He comes back for us or calls us home. When this
world is laying burdens on us, all we need to do is be
like Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19, when he read the letter of
the impending destruction, he went to house of the Lord
and spread the letter before the Lord, and prayed. God is
always ready to hear His children when they call. God
gave us access to His grace (Romans 5:2) and made a
way for us to be able to endure. When life starts to
hinder us and places burdens on us, we can just continue
on as a strong soldier and give all the burdens to the
Lord. He knows how much we can bear and His word
says He won’t place more on us then we can bear. I’m
glad the Lord is merciful to His people.
Reporter: Sis. Deanna Johnson
Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence
The Church of Jesus Christ
Portage, IN
Strength Where You Need It!
(1 Peter 1:13) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be
brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Gird – To fasten, secure; to equip; prepare
Loins – The muscle on either side of the spine in the
lower back.
In the above verse, Peter is edifying or building up
the church. He tells them to “gird up the loins”.
Throughout time, men have placed belts (girdles)
around their loins as a means of increasing strength in
the region of the back that bears the stress of exerting
force in lifting and carrying burdens. This is the area of
the body that if not strengthened and if not cared for
properly will break down and fail under the weight of
our labors. Anyone who has done manual labor for an
employer in recent years has probably been required to
learn proper techniques for lifting and carrying heavy
items, and quite possibly has been issued a safety belt to
aid them in their job.
As Peter ministers to them he makes it plain that
the loins to which he refers are their minds. Our
spiritual loins are our mind, because it is with our mind
first that we serve God. It is by the strength of our mind
that we bring our bodies into captivity to the will of
God. In Romans 7:18-25 the apostle Paul writes about
the continual warfare that each us faces, and declares
that it is with our minds that we serve God. Our minds
are the first defense against sin. Our minds bear the
brunt of Satan’s attacks. All his devices are aimed at
breaking down the stronghold of our mind.
(Ephesians 6:14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt
about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;
Paul here writes that it is truth that will secure and
prepare our minds for the battles we face. What is truth?
(John 17:17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word
is truth.
Make no mistake about it. Our spiritual strength,
the long term security of our walk with God, lies in our
knowledge of His word. If I know the word of God says
that He will never leave me nor forsake me, then I can
stand secure in that knowledge no matter what the devil
throws at me. If I know the word says I can do all things
through Jesus Christ, then I can tell my flesh it is wrong
when it cries out that it I am too weak to bear up under
the trials and temptations I face.
I pray that we can all lay Peter’s words to heart
and gird up the loins of our mind, be sober (calm, not
under the influence of passions), and hope all the way to
the end (ours or the world’s) for that grace that will
appear at the Lord’s return.
Yours in Jesus Christ
Pastor Elder Mickey Dodd
The Church of Jesus Christ
Dyersburg, TN
Pierceton Report
Praise the Lord everyone! Let everything that
hath breath, praise ye the Lord. God is great and greatly
to be praised. Let’s lift our voices together to our King.
For He is worthy of all praise!
We thank Jesus Christ for all He has brought us
through and the many, many blessings He has given
each and everyone of us. Even the very breath we
breathe is a blessing. So, let us count our blessing and
be thankful for what we do have, not grumble and
complain about the things we don’t have. If we have a
roof over our head, food, and clothes we have more than
some people do. Just be grateful for all God has given to
us.
We were glad to have been able to attend this
year’s General Convocation in Portage, Indiana. God
really moved through the services and so many were
blessed. But the best part was the preaching and
teaching that came forth. What a reminder of who we
are as God’s people, and to stand for the truth in this
dark world because He is coming back for a people, His
bride, who have made themselves spotless and without
blemish. Don’t give up the “old paths” but walk in them
and don’t stray in this last hour. Jesus is coming and
coming soon! So, let’s be ready, watching and praying
for His return. What a great convocation!
We are also thankful for a great Tent Revival here
in Pierceton, Indiana. There was a good turn out. We
thank all the churches for coming and all their support,
especially for all the ones who set up and tore down the
tent. We know there’s a lot of work that goes into it and
we pray you’ll be greatly blessed for your sacrifice.
God really moved in the services and so many
were touched and renewed. We are thank God for the
one that received that Holy Ghost. It was such a
wonderful sight to see. Praise the Lord for all He has
done and is doing.
We were blessed to have Bishop Johnson in
service and preach for us that Sunday morning. He
taught on how we are servants of Jesus Christ and how
we need to grow in knowledge of Him. We also need to
be obedient and faithful in the small tasks that we are
asked to do and God will make us rulers over bigger
things. We are so thankful for Bishop and Sister
Johnson and pray God blesses them greatly.
We are very thankful for our pastor, Bishop
Robert O’Dell and all that he teaches and preaches.
Lately he has been teaching on how the last of Bible
prophecy is being fulfilled right now and to heed the
warning of all that is happening. God gave us these
signs so we could be prepared for His return. We need
to watch, keep our eyes open, be alert, and do not fall
asleep in this last hour, and pray. If there ever was a
time to be on our knees, it is now. Don’t be so caught up
in this world’s day to day routines that you forget God
and become sluggish in His way. As apostle Paul said
we need to die daily to this sinful world and make time
for the things of God. We need to also grow in
knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of Jesus Christ.
Our whole duty as mankind is to fear God and keep His
commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) The work that
we do will be judged one day by God Himself, whether
it be good or whether it be evil. We need to receive
instruction and learn from it, then we will become wise.
(Proverbs 1:1-9) We need to apply ourselves and our
lives to doing the work of Jesus Christ and all He wants
us to do and be. Seek after God’s will and His ways put
Him first and all the rest will work out, too. We can do
it and we can make it. Living for Jesus Christ and His
ways is a doable thing. It is not too hard when you set
your mind to it. WE CAN DO IT!
Sis. Nora Hensley
Pastor: Bishop Robert O’ Dell
The Church of Jesus Christ
Pierceton, IN
Youth Report from Dyersburg, TN
The youth in Dyersburg has been doing great. Bro.
Pete and Sis. Tammy are still doing an excellent job. On
the last Saturday of each month we have a youth outing.
Sometimes we will play volleyball and games or we‘ll
have a youth service. We had a great youth service at
the end of July right before everyone went back to
school. A lot of the younger kids learned songs and it is
great to see them taking part. Just continue to remember
the youth.
Youth Reporter: Sis. Laura Beth Dodd
Pastor, Elder Mickey Dodd
The Church of Jesus Christ
Dyersburg, TN
Halloween
Is it a Trick-or-Treat?
As you look at this question you might remember
the times of dressing up and going door knocking for
something good to eat. Or, you might think of the times
that little children that came to your door all dressed up
and think that nothing could ever be wrong with that. If
you were to look at the countless News Paper Articles
you might say that you were right. But the truth of the
matter is that there is a danger in this Holiday that many
people don’t even realize.
When we look at Halloween many think that it is
just some Holiday that the Satanist decided to pick to
worship Satan. But Halloween has been around much
longer than what most people even realize. One little
fact that most people don’t know is that Halloween was
banned in the United States until 1845, and because of a
Potato Famine in Ireland many emigrants came to the
United States bring with them their Druid holidays.
One of those Holidays was the festival that marked the
beginning of the Celtic New Year. In this festival they
would worship a god named SAMAN (Shamhain). He
was their, “lord of death and evil spirits.” This pagan
god was seen as a ghostly skeleton, holding a sickle in
his hands. We today know him better as the GRIM
REAPER.
History tells us that in the 800’s the Catholic
Church tried to establish a new holiday on Nov. 1st.
This Holiday was called “All Saints Day” or “All
Hallows”. (Hallows means saints) The night before this
festival was called “All Hollows’ Eve” Then the name
was changed to “All Hallow e’en. Which then the word
Halloween gets its name from. No matter how the
holiday received its name is not important, but rather
what day it was done and what they did on that day that
is in important.
Oct. 31st what could ever be wrong with this day?
Remember that some believe that it was just a day that
the Satanist chose to worship Satan on. But looking
into other religions we find something very shocking.
In Egypt we find many festivals but one stands out
from the rest. It is the Festival and Mysteries of Osiris
at Dendera. This Festival was held between Oct 28th
and Nov 6th.
This Festival celebrating the annual death and
rebirth of Osiris, the god of the afterlife. According to
the myth Osiris was killed and dismembered by his
brother Seth. When Osiris wife had heard what was
done she went and found all the pieces of her husband
and put him back together. According to the myth that
after his body was put back together he was able to have
a son Horus, with his wife. Since Osiris was able to
bring forth life from his dead body the Egyptians
believed that he had triumphed over death thus
becoming the god of the afterlife.
Notice the days in which this festival takes place
on: Oct. 28th – Nov. 6th some might say that there is
nothing wrong with this but we find an Egyptian god of
the afterlife being celebrated. Now look at Halloween
and the god that is worshiped on this day. SAMAN
who to the Druids the lord of death and evil spirits. And
when do we celebrate him on Oct. 31st. We must say
that it is strange at the very least.
In 1st Kings 12:25-33 we find Jeroboam afraid
that the children of Israel were going to turn back to
God and would then return and kill Jeroboam. So,
Jeroboam sets out to build two golden calves and places
them in Bethel and Dan. He then ordains a feast telling
the people that they should “behold their gods that
brought them out of Egypt.” As verse 30 states that,
“this became a Sin.”
I would like for you to look at verses 32 & 33.
Notice that the feast that Jeroboam devised in his own
heart was found in the 8th month and the 15th day. You
might say that this has nothing to do with our
Halloween because Halloween is found in the 10th
month and the 31st day. Here is one thing we must
remember is that in the Bible days the Jewish people did
not have our Calendar as we know it. The Jewish
people used two types of Calendars: A Civil Calendar
which was the official calendar of kings, childbirth, and
contracts and a Sacred Calendar which was used for
all the Jewish festivals.
Since we are talking about a festival of the
children of Israel, then we must use the Sacred
calendar. The 8th month on this calendar is the month
of Heshvan. Compared to our calendar it runs from Oct.
16th – Nov. 13th. The 15th day of Heshvan would be
our Oct. 30th. The day before the world celebrates
Halloween. Is this mere consequence? NO
Look at the 28th verse: 1 Kings 12:28 Whereupon
the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold,
and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to
Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought
thee up out of the land of Egypt.
At first glace we don’t find any god of the dead
being worshiped here. But have you ever wonder where
Jeroboam got the idea of worshipping the golden
calves? The answer to that is found in Exodus 32:19-
24.
As the children of Israel were waiting for Moses
up on the mountain, we find that they became in-patient
with him and decided to make their own gods. As we
know the story we find that on the return of Moses he
sees the calf and becomes very angry but where did
Aaron come up with the first calf? In Exodus 12:40-41
we find that the Children of Israel had spent 430 years
in bondage to Egypt.
As the Moses soon realized that it was easier to
bring the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt than
it was to get Egypt out of the Children of Israel. Now
remember in Egypt they had a festival called, “Festival
and Mysteries of Osiris at Dendera.” As we have
brought out that this festival was celebrated in honor of
the Egyptian god Osiris “the god of the underworld.”
But how does the Golden calf that Aaron and Jeroboam
tie into all of this?
In Egypt they had an animal called the “Apis
Bull.” The Apis bulls were considered to be the earthly
incarnation of a god - but unlike other animals who
could only intercede with deities on behalf of humans,
the Apis Bull was believed to be the very god himself
living amongst the human population. They were
chosen for their special markings and were indeed
treated as gods on earth - when the bulls died they were
then mourned, mummified and then buried with the
same glory that occurred with the death of a pharaoh.
The Apis Bull was worshipped because it was believed
to be the Egyptians god Osiris. Many times his name is
found with the name Apis-Osiris. According to
Plutarch “Apis was a fair and beautiful image of the
soul of Osiris.”
When we look back into the Bible we find that the
Children of Israel worshipped these images for many
years, and just like 1st kings 12:30 says, “And this
thing became a sin.” In the book of 2 Kings 17:14-18
we find the Children of Israel once again worshipping
these golden calves but they added to their sin.
(Picture of the Apis Bull Idol)
In verse 16 we find that not only did the Children
of Israel worship the two calves but they also had made
a grove in which they worshipped all the host of
heaven. Notice the last word in this verse - Baal. When
most Christians hear that name they remember the many
times that his name is mention throughout the Bible.
But who is he really?
The word Baal means "master" or "owner". Baal
was a common name of some Syrian and Persian
deities. Baal is still the principally thought of as a
Canaanite fertility deity. The cult of Baal celebrated
annually his death and resurrection as a part of the
Canaanite fertility rituals. These ceremonies often
included human sacrifice.
According to mythology we find that the story of
Baal and the story of Osiris is surprisingly seemlier.
The Babylonians account of Baal plays out as him being
the fertility god just like his Egyptian counterpart
Osiris. In both accounts the god is killed and brought
back to life because of the love of the gods’ wife. So
with that said, we can come to the conclusion that Osiris
and Baal is indeed the same pagan god just with a
different name.
Look at the following verse: Genesis 10:6 And the
sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and
Canaan. The reason why this verse is so important is
because we find that these sons of Ham become great
nations. Cush is the father of Nimrod who is the
founder of Babylon. And we find Mizraim is the
founder of Egypt. Egypt in Arabic is spelled Misr.
Phut becomes allied with Egypt (Mizraim) and becomes
the nation of Libya. Canaan becomes the father of the
Canaanites. Within these four nations we find many of
the same myths being told with different names. You
might ask why did they have different names? When
God separated the language from the people at the
Tower of Babel they left into their different nations
taking with them the same stories just with different
names. The fact remains that they were still the same
god; Osiris and Baal
Through out the world there are many festivals
that celebrate the dead. Also in many customs we find a
so called god of the dead or lord of the dead being
worshipped. A true child of God knows there is only
one True God. Some might say what is the difference
between Jesus Christ and these pagan gods; didn’t He
do the same as them? The difference is that while other
false gods claim to have been raised from the dead only
one can claim that he is the Living God. In Mark 12:27
it states that, “He is not the God of the dead, but the
God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.”
Another difference between the false Idols and
Jesus Christ is how they are worshipped. When we find
a false idol being worshipped we find people being
sacrificed. According to Romans 12:1 it says, “I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
If you still have the question about who is the true
living God, then the best place to look is in the book of
1 kings 18:18-40. If you were to read the story, you
would find that Elijah proved without a doubt that Baal
(the god of the dead / Osiris or any of the countless
other names) was not a true God, but only a trick that
satan had fooled the people with. Elijah asks the
question, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if
the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then
follow him.” In conclusion I hope that anyone that reads this
will see that Halloween is NOT just a ordinary holiday.
It is more then just a holiday that people dress up and
receive candy. The truth is that satan has dressed up
Halloween to be cute but in fact it is a festival of the
dead. The Bible hives commandment in 2 Corinthians
6:14-18 that we are not to have fellowship with idols
and to be separate from all unrighteousness.
I hope that I have proven that Halloween is a trick
and not a treat for those that claim to be a servant of the
Living God, Jesus Christ.
Bro. Jon. Leslie
Pastor Bishop Jarret R. Spence
The Church of Jesus Christ
Portage, IN
In Him is all I Need
His abundance for my emptiness,
And His life for my lifelessness.
His love for my coldness,
And His light for my darkness.
His truth for my deceit,
And His joy for my sadness.
His victory for my defeat,
And His rest for my restlessness.
Submitted by: Sis. Caryn Spence
Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence
The Church of Jesus Christ
Portage, IN
Don’t Be Left Behind
I heard the trumpet sounding early one cloudy
mourn. I knew it was the big one there was no mistaking
that horn. I had heard the story told often obey Him, if
you want to go or keep on doing things your way and
stay here, you know?
In a twinkling of an eye, He came back in the
clouds, just like He said He would. The only thing
missing is I didn’t go with Him, oh how I had wished I
could.
The life that was so simple would be that way no
more, all because I left Him and refused to walk through
His door.
The worldly things now seemed so foolish, and I
knew it was too late. I missed my change at heaven and
seeing that pearly gate.
The destruction that will follow is nothing I want
to see, but because I had it my way, it’s the way it’s
gotta be.
Oh, what was I thinking, doing what I wanted and
being on my own, that’s exactly what I got now and to
me it was being shown.
I wish I just had one more chance to make
everything alright; I would live for Jesus Christ and do
good in His sight.
I was so very happy to know it was all a dream,
but knowing it would all happen so quickly such was a
terrible thing.
I’ll let this be a warning and let God have His
way. He’s got the saving power; all I have to do is obey.
Written by: Sis. Monica Savarese
Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence
The Church of Jesus Christ
Portage, IN
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